Crushing by-election defeat puts PPP in a pickle

The governing People Power Party (PPP) is in a pinch after its marked defeat in a critical race in Seoul's Gangseo District Office, scrambling to develop a new game plan just six months ahead of next April's general elections.

People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Kim Gi-hyeon, center, and other party leaders are somber as they analyze their defeat in a key race in Seoul's Gangseo District during a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly in western Seoul Thursday. [YONHAP]

The governing People Power Party (PPP) is in a pinch after its marked defeat in a critical race in Seoul's Gangseo District Office, scrambling to develop a new game plan just six months ahead of next April's general elections.

Jin Kyo-hoon, the candidate for the liberal Democratic Party (DP), won the by-election to head Gangseo District Office on Wednesday, defeating the PPP candidate by a double-digit figure.

The PPP's chief said Thursday the conservative party would "cool-headedly analyze the reason for the election defeat and devise special measures" for a victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

"We humbly respect the results and will reform ourselves further," PPP Chairman Kim Gi-hyeon said at a supreme council meeting at the National Assembly, acknowledging the party had "not been chosen by the people of Gangseo District" despite its best efforts in the by-election.

DP's candidate Jin received 56.52 percent of the votes, or 137,066 votes of 500,603 eligible voters in the district, compared to 39.37 percent for his rival from the PPP, Kim Tae-woo, according to the National Election Commission (NEC) early Thursday. Jin was 17.15 percentage points ahead of Kim, a more considerable margin than had been expected by the PPP.

The NEC said voter turnout was 48.7 percent, slightly lower than anticipated. Eligible voters in Gangseo District cast their ballots between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesday, the day of the by-election, after a record turnout of 22.64 percent for the early voting period held last Friday and Saturday.

The race was closely monitored as it could help solidify the winning party's leadership while putting the losing party under more scrutiny in the lead-up to next year's general elections.

The PPP leadership acknowledged that the by-election was held in a difficult constituency, as Gangseo in western Seoul is traditionally a liberal stronghold. However, it did not offer to take collective responsibility for the defeat.

"As the party leader, I would like to express my gratitude and apologize to all of our party members who did their best in the election campaign to support the public sentiment of Gangseo residents, even though the conditions were not easy for our party," PPP head Kim said. "With the determination to start from scratch, we will listen to public sentiment more humbly."

He then pledged to "develop tailored measures to win the hearts of more people in regional and metropolitan areas where our party's presence is relatively weak."

Though contesting over a relatively obscure position to head one of Seoul's 25 districts, the PPP and DP have been throwing their whole force into campaign efforts in Gangseo, seen to be indicative of voter sentiment in the metropolitan area, the biggest battleground for the April 2023 parliamentary elections.

PPP floor leader Yun Jae-ok also said he "humbly accepts" the results, acknowledging that the by-election, while one for a smaller district office position, reflected "the public sentiment of the entire nation" and that the party will consider this going forward.

"Our party and candidate did our best to win the hearts of Gangseo residents, but in the eyes of the people, it seems there were many shortcomings," Yun said. "We deeply understand its implications."

The PPP leadership plans to hold a meeting on Friday to develop further plans to improve its structure ahead of the general elections.

A presidential official said Thursday regarding the PPP's defeat in Gangseo that the "government's position is that any election result must be accepted sternly."

Jin Kyo-hoon, newly elected head of Gangseo District Office, gives his first greeting at his new office in western Seoul Thursday after the liberal Democratic Party’s significant victory over the People Power Party in a by-election Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Jin's election is a victory for DP Chairman Lee Jae-myung, who was released from the hospital Monday while still recovering from deteriorated health from a hunger strike to campaign for his party's candidate amid his legal woes surrounding bribery and corruption allegations.

Jin, a native of Jeonju in North Jeolla, is a graduate of the Korean National Police University and has served in key posts in the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the National Police Agency and as chief of the Jeonbuk Provincial Police Agency.

"This election is a victory of common sense, a victory of principles and a great victory for the people of Gangseo District," Jin said. "I will use every minute and second to fill the vacuum and normalize district administration."

The DP, in turn, renewed its calls for an overhaul of the Yoon Suk Yeol Cabinet, calling the removal of "unqualified" members a starting point for reform.

During a party meeting, DP floor leader Hong Ihk-pyo said that the election results "represent the people's stern judgment on the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's unchecked authority and signify a victory for all those wishing for a new Gangseo District."

The by-election comes as Kim Tae-woo, who was elected as Gangseo District chief in local government elections in June 2022, was removed from office in May after the Supreme Court handed him a suspended prison sentence on charges of leaking government secrets gained while working for a special inspection team under the previous Moon Jae-in Blue House.

President Yoon Suk Yeol granted a special pardon for Kim in August, reinstating his right to run for office.

Amid some speculation that Kim could try to run for a position in the upcoming general elections, some PPP officials said the chances are slim because he suffered such a significant defeat in Gangseo.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]